Panasonic TV's leave the Aussie TV market

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Dunnersfella

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#265650 3-Feb-2020 20:34

Pana is leaving the TV market in Aussie, will they stay in NZ?

They exited the US market a few years back...

https://www.applianceretailer.com.au/2020/02/panasonic-withdraws-from-australian-tv-market/

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#2412117 3-Feb-2020 21:32

Panasonic did withdraw from the US TV market but has stayed in Canada and Mexico so it's not a sure thing they'll go.

It was obvious they weren't doing as well in Australia as here maybe as Australians seem more intent on buying cheap junk brand TVs than New Zealanders are. I hope they won't withdraw as they have the highest brand reliability and a low fuss interface. Less consumer choice is a bad thing.

Dunnersfella

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#2412130 3-Feb-2020 22:07

If they were to pull out, I believe businesses such as TCL would take their place in the lower / mid-tier of the market place.

The upper segment will be owned by Samsung and LG and to a degree, Sony. I say 'to a degree' as they are not overly well represented in the likes of 100% Stores or at all in Harvey Norman (for TV's).

mail2mm

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#2412144 4-Feb-2020 00:36

It would be a loss to the NZ market to lose Panasonic TVs. I particularly like the dual satellite and UHF capability on many of their models. I have purchased several over the past ten years for myself and rental units. They have all been easy to use, reliable and a quality picture.

sbiddle

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#2412192 4-Feb-2020 07:18

Problem with the TV market is there is zero margin in it. Customisation of TV's is still required in different markets and if you can't break even there is zero point being there.

dafman

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#2412216 4-Feb-2020 08:23

sbiddle:
Problem with the TV market is there is zero margin in it.

That's because consumers today expect to pay next to nothing for their technology; we are simply reaping the consequences.

Just look over a few threads on GZ for examples - eg. fraudulently sign up to term contracts to obtain heavy discounts, then immediately cancel ...

etc

alasta

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#2412225 4-Feb-2020 08:41

I'm surprised how much the TV market has changed in the last 25 years.

It wasn't that long ago when we had a lot of mainstream options; Sony, Philips, Panasonic, Sanyo, Sharp, Mitsubishi, etc. The Koreans had limited market share back in those days.

If Panasonic were to exit, then the only one of the above to remain would be Sony and from all accounts they're not making a lot of money on TVs.

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Dingbatt

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#2412231 4-Feb-2020 08:56

I am disappointed to think that Panasonic may exit the TV market here. Ironically Philips have only recently re-entered it.

I was a dyed in the wool Panasonic fan. Our first two widescreen TVs were Panasonic, as was our first plasma, and our second (bigger) plasma. Even the projector is a Panasonic (which replaced an earlier Panasonic projector). The family room plasma was replaced with a Panasonic LCD that, while being smart and UHD, never really lived up to expectations.

But I now have an LG OLED for prime viewing in the lounge and the Panasonic LCD has been moved to the bedroom, replaced by a Samsung (QLED) Frame TV in the family room. Having displays from other manufacturers has opened my eyes, particularly to OSes.

I have always had good responses to problems or queries from Panasonic NZ.
I am already inventing excuses for the purchase of a microLED set when they come to market. It would be a shame if there isn’t a Panasonic option amongst them.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

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#2412233 4-Feb-2020 09:06

That's not good news, coz I read they make some of the best tvs. I'm not sure why you'd call them mid tier. I thought they're up there with the best.

dafman

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#2412240 4-Feb-2020 09:18

I have always purchased Panasonic. My first TV was a 29" Panasonic, I've owned a couple of their Plasma's and now an OLED. I was planning my next TV in a few years to be a 75 (or bigger) Panasonic OLED, so hope they hang around for a while.

And on the couple of times I have required service, Panasonic NZ have been exemplary.

Bananabob

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#2412259 4-Feb-2020 09:36

Does this also mean the end of the Panasonic HDD recorder?

FineWine

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#2412302 4-Feb-2020 11:11

My first TV was a Phillips K9 24" in the 80's, in NZ & AU, what a brilliant TV it was. Finally ditched it in the late 90's for a Sony wega 32" TV. Again what a great TV plus a Sony STR 7:1 sound system. Now have a Panasonic Viera TH-L50E6Z & Panasonic Blu-ray PVR DMR-BWT835 with a Yamaha AVR RX-V1085. Again very happy with this setup.

Technology moves on, companies that don't die, eg. Kodak, RIM etc.

What I would like NOW is a choice in really good TV monitors ONLY plus with a choice in really good smart central terrestrial, satellite & UFB boxes.

Then in shortly thereafter a really good IoT centralised home computerised control centre for everything in the home.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

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Dingbatt

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#2412353 4-Feb-2020 11:40

FineWine:

My first TV was a Phillips K9 24" in the 80's, in NZ & AU, what a brilliant TV it was. Finally ditched it in the late 90's for a Sony wega 32" TV. Again what a great TV plus a Sony STR 7:1 sound system. Now have a Panasonic Viera TH-L50E6Z & Panasonic Blu-ray PVR DMR-BWT835 with a Yamaha AVR RX-V1085. Again very happy with this setup.

Technology moves on, companies that don't die, eg. Kodak, RIM etc.

What I would like NOW is a choice in really good TV monitors ONLY plus with a choice in really good smart central terrestrial, satellite & UFB boxes.

Then in shortly thereafter a really good IoT centralised home computerised control centre for everything in the home.

Funny you mention this because that is the arrangement I had when I was using my Panasonic plasmas. They were basically dumb monitors with everything being run from and connected to, AV Receivers in a centralised cupboard.

The LG OLED has its own Atmos soundbar, allowing the removal of the 5.1 speakers from the lounge (much to my wife’s approval) and the Frame has a soundbar attached (again speakers removed from family room for WAF), so the centralised system complete with HDD recorder (Panasonic), Chromecasts, AppleTVs and Bluray players have largely fallen into disuse (they are oversized switch boxes). At the moment the smart TV apps do the job but the centralised system may come back into its own when the TV apps inevitably become obsolete.

It would appear TVs in this part of the world may be heading the same way as phones. Apple (LG) or Samsung, or a cheaper Chinese alternative.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

sen8or

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#2412462 4-Feb-2020 14:06

I was disappointed when Panasonic left the home theatre projector market, I have owned 3 (AE700, AX200 & AE4000) and had reviewed a handful more for Audioenz, they were always a favourite and I reckon if they were to delve into 4k, they'd land with a pretty big splash, but with big box retailers eliminating their "demo rooms" that once drew in technology shoppers like moths to a flame, there was not going to be mass market volume for them to justify the r&d, so they opted for a higher volume line.

The TV market has to be tough, rolling out newer better things each year and trying to convince consumers that they "need" the latest, just to keep your brand awareness and market share up, really is a bit of a losing battle, then just as 4k becomes main stream, someone throws out 8k into the mix just to shake things up. Broadcast, streamed or disc 8k? Can't see it for a long time, yet because there are sets in the market, they'll have to either keep up or go the way of the video shop franchise.

mattwnz

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#2412500 4-Feb-2020 15:14

sbiddle:

Problem with the TV market is there is zero margin in it. Customisation of TV's is still required in different markets and if you can't break even there is zero point being there.

I think there is a place for a premium brand, who charges more and provides a better quality product. Some high quality audio stores do, or at least did, sell more premium TVs that cost a lot more. Brands such as Loewe. Sony I see as a more premium brand and they do tend to cost more if you go for their more premium models.. Personally I usually only buy Sony, because they do seem to be superior quality in terms of durability, from my experience. Also Sonys pays more attention to design IMO than companies like panasonic, samsung or LG/Philips. Although these other brands have improved. But I think if Apple produced a TV and it was even double the price, it would sell quite well, as people can be prepared to pay more for quality and something that looks good, as well as the brand. Especially if it integrates with other apple devices. But I can' see them doing this, as the TV market is already saturated, unless they are producing a new unique experience. Apple have produced a new pro monitor, so they have got back into manufacturing displays again, and people are prepared to pay more for those, and even paying close to 2k just for the stand. Even though the mobile market was quite saturated prior to the iphone, but they produced a new experience with the iphone, that made other brands change their idea of how a smartphone should work and be designed.

I think if they were to produce one, it may make sense not to have any TV functionality in terms of UHF compontentary and freeview, and solely make it an internet device. That would save costs, and would mean they don't need multiple versions for different markets.

Dingbatt

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#2412512 4-Feb-2020 15:34

mattwnz:

I think if they were to produce one, it may make sense not to have any TV functionality in terms of UHF compontentary and freeview, and solely make it an internet device. That would save costs, and would mean they don't need multiple versions for different markets.

So literally a large wall-mountable iPad.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

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